Castle at Makahūena at Po’ipū

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first heard the name “Castle at Makahūena at Po’ipū,” I was expecting something way more grandiose than what you actually get. It’s not really a castle in any traditional sense, more like a solid mid-range property that happens to sit in one of Kauai’s most coveted spots. But here’s the thing about Po’ipū – location really is everything, and this place nails that part. You’re practically on top of Makahūena Point, which means you’ve got those dramatic ocean views that make you forget about whatever quirks the property might have. The 3-star rating is pretty accurate, honestly. It’s not trying to be the Grand Hyatt down the road, and that’s actually kind of refreshing.

What I really appreciated was how the place feels more like a local secret than a tourist trap. You know how some hotels in Po’ipū can feel completely disconnected from the real Hawaii? This one doesn’t have that problem. The staff actually seems to live here (revolutionary concept, I know), and they’ll point you toward the good stuff – like how Brennecke’s Beach right below is where the locals bodysurf, or that you can walk to Spouting Horn in about ten minutes instead of driving and dealing with that tiny parking lot. The rooms themselves are… well, they’re fine. Clean, functional, nothing that’ll blow your mind but nothing that’ll make you want to leave early either. Some units have better ocean views than others – worth asking about when you book because the difference is pretty dramatic.

The 7.0 rating feels about right, maybe even a little conservative. Sure, it’s not going to compete with the luxury resorts for amenities or that polished resort experience, but there’s something to be said for a place that doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard. The pool area is actually pretty nice – smaller than what you’d get at the big resorts but way less crowded, and you can still hear the waves crashing below. Parking was surprisingly easy, which is a big deal in Po’ipū where some places make you feel like you’re playing musical cars. One small thing that bugged me – the Wi-Fi was pretty spotty in some areas, so if you’re planning to work from “paradise,” maybe have a backup plan. But honestly, being forced to disconnect isn’t the worst thing when you’re steps away from some of the best beaches on the island. The whole Makahūena Point area has this raw, dramatic beauty that feels different from the more manicured resort beaches, and staying here puts you right in the middle of it.

Rooms

• Three-Bedroom Apartment for 6 adults, 3 children
• Two-Bedroom Suite with 4 × 1 large double bed, sofa bed and 1 sofa bed for 4 adults, 3 children
• Three-Bedroom Suite Ocean View with 2 × 2 single beds and 2 large double beds for 6 adults, 4 children

Reviews

• Christian from United Kingdom (8/10)

  Large condo, walking distance to Poipu beach(10-15mins). Pool available. We could see turtles swimming outside in the ocean. Parking was just outside the condo, so very easy to move luggage /shopping etc . Staff very helpful but network coverage wasn’t great for us when we needed to call them ..

• Pamela from United States (6/10)

  we really loved the view of the sun set and could take a short walk to see the sun rise, enjoyed the pool when it wasn’t closed for two days of our stay.

• Tamara from United States (8/10)

  Great location, great ocean view. Awesome pool that was warm.

• Paul from Australia (7/10)

  Good location.
  Very spacious apartment

• Kenneth from United States (8/10)

  Excellent location in Poipu to Shipwreck, Brennecke’s, and Poipu Beaches. Nice breeze off of the ocean. The southern most point of the property has a good view of the ocean, sunset, and excellent for viewing the night sky, several folks gathered to watch the sunset and night sky. There is another access point off to lava rocks where you can watch the surf crash and watch the sunset. Condo was more than we anticipated. Plenty of room for a family of 4, three of them adults. Full kitchen, and two community outdoor gas grills (cleaned and maintained), we grilled three times on our stay.

• Tessara from Australia (8/10)

  Away from the main area, peaceful and beautiful. Nice to be able to just sit outside and watch the 🌊 wave hitting the cliffs of volcanic rocks.😊

• Barbara from United States (8/10)

  Location is ideal

• Janice from United States (8/10)

  Loved how quiet it was .

• Mark from United States (8/10)

• Angie from United States (5/10)

  The location is excellent.
  The rental agency was very responsive and helpful. They were LOVELY in accommodating an early check-in and late check-out to make it easy and enjoyable with our elderly grandparents and little children.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities